PARIS – Pro-Palestinian protesters tried to force their way into a Paris synagogue Sunday with bats and chairs, then fought with security officers who blocked their way, according to police and a witness.

Recent violence in Gaza has raised emotions in France, home to Western Europe's largest Muslim population and largest Jewish community. Sunday's unrest by a few dozen troublemakers came at the end of sizable protest in the French capital demanding an end to Israeli strikes on Gaza and accusing Weste...